Ilám

Ilám, often anglicized as Ilam or Elam in older sources, is a name used for several related places and historical contexts in western Iran and the broader Near East. In contemporary Iran, Ilam refers to Ilam Province (ostan-e Ilam), a western province bordered by Iraq. The provincial capital is the city of Ilam. The region lies within the Zagros mountain belt and features a mixed economy that includes agriculture, trade, and cross-border activity with Iraq.

Historically, Ilám is associated with the ancient Elam civilization, which occupied southwestern Iran and parts of eastern Mesopotamia. Elamite culture produced a distinctive artistic and architectural tradition and used its own writing system, the Elamite script. The Elamite language is considered a language isolate. Elam had long and varied interactions with Mesopotamian civilizations, including trade and conflict, and its political centers included major sites such as Susa. The Elamite state eventually declined and was absorbed by successive empires in the region during the late first millennium BCE.

In modern usage, the name Ilam is retained in Iran for the province and its capital city, reflecting the historical connection to the Elam region. The term evokes a broad historical continuum—from an ancient, authoritative civilization in the Zagros foothills to a contemporary Iranian province characterized by its mountainous terrain and border location with Iraq. See also Elam for more on the ancient civilization that shares the historical root of the name.